What is the best way that you have found in online PBP games to manage keeping track of how much damage has been done to whom, a way of keep track of effects, etc?  I know about the combat tracker on DND beyond, but is there any easier way?  Just wanted to hear how other DMs do it.

Before I used Beyond's encounter builder, I used to track that all with post it notes on the table in front of me. One post-it per character generally just with their HP and core stat block. That allows me to move them about in initiative order etc. 

For enemies I HIGHLY recommend the monster/beast/NPC cards like these: Dungeons & Dragons Spellbook Cards: Volo's Guide to Monsters (Monster Cards, D&d Accessory) : Wizards RPG Team: Amazon.co.uk: Books

You can simply remove the cards you need for the session and you've got minimal clutter on your desk. Again, use some post-its to track each enemy's HP & initiative.

I'm SURE there's a better way to do it, but that's how I did it early on.

I personally find that simply taking notes on paper works just fine. At the start of combat, I write down each monster's HP maximum, and the initiative order, on a piece of scratch paper. As combat goes on, I cross out their old HP counts and write new ones next to them. I track conditions the monsters have by writing on the side in short notes (such as "fr" for "frightened" and "bw" for "breath weapon recharging." My notes would probably be indecipherable to most other people, but they work fine for me.

Things like the D&D beyond combat tracker aren't really necessary for keeping track of combat. You definitely can use them, but they're a little excessive and overcomplicated for me.

To clarify, I am DMing a PBP game, online.  Was wondering if anyone had good recs for battle tracking programs or easy ways to handle this online.

I really like Roll20, except for it's audio.  For that I use either discord or zoom.

I just use DDB and put up with the shortcomings.

PBP can mean many things. I remember when it was literally posting on forums to participate in a game. There are many younger players who see any online play as PBP so, it might be worth clarifying for people what you mean by PBP.

Personally I use Beyond's Encounter builder for everything online or in person.

My standard online game set up is as follows:

• Beyond for Character Sheets, Encounter Management and checking on rules.
• Discord for voice and curating the game's lore etc.
• OwlbearRodeo for battlemaps and visuals. I'd hugely champion Owlbear as a far superior system to Roll20, mainly because it isn't laggy, doesn't require user accounts, allows me to stream music to the group, allows custom tokens and maps, has a built in timer, allows dice rolling. Like it trounces Roll20 for usability. It's even free, though I have donated to them because I want to see them succeed.

Before I started relying on the DDB encounter builder though I did use the same pen and paper techniques I mentioned all kept in a folio binder specifically for the game. 

Thanking then about how I would do play by post on a forum or similar, I'd still use DDB encounter builder because you can resume/restart battles. Otherwise, being honest I'd use a word doc or similar to track that stuff. The advantage of old pen and paper systems of organisation is that they work fine if not better for that more slow paced form of play.

Quote from Aquilain>>

I remember when it was literally posting on forums to participate in a game.

😳

I assumed it still meant that, especially considering that there’s a robust PbP subforum here on DDB.

I keep notes for my games either in notebook or email. When i run game using a VT like Roll20 i use its journal as well.

I only play in person, so….

I either use D&D Beyond’s combat tracker or I use a small dry erase board that’s about the same size as a piece of paper. Both work pretty well.